The following dispatch from Washington recently appeared in the New
York _Sun_:
Uncle Joe Cannon was in fine form to-day when he received
twenty-five young men, representing the Intercollegiate League,
now in session here. Uncle Joe complimented his callers on their
advantages, but he told them that knowledge gained in college
was of little value unless it was crossed by experience and
courage.
Years ago, the Speaker said that he received a degree in a law
college in Indiana. He started to Chicago to make his fortune,
accompanied by his diploma and $6. He was put off the train in
central Illinois when his money gave out and that was why he
wound up at Danville, instead of Chicago.
Uncle Joe said that he hung up his diploma in his little law
office and waited for clients. For six months he had little to
do aside from looking at the diploma and twirling his thumbs.
Finally, one day, in a fit of rage, he pulled down the diploma
and destroyed it.
“The diploma in itself was of no use to me,” said Uncle Joe. “I
kept my courage, however, and by and by began to make my way in
the world.”
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